Inflation likely to breach 10 pc mark by April-end: Deloitte

Global consultancy firm Deloitte said that inflation is likely to rise in the next two months to breach 10 per cent mark by April from 8.56 per cent at the end of January.

“I do expect very low double-digit inflation in the next two months,” Deloitte India Principal Economist Shanto Ghosh told PTI.

He further said it could start decreasing thereafter to reach around 6 per cent by the end of 2010.

“However, we should keep a watch on global commodity prices, which could build inflationary pressures once the world economy recovers,” Ghosh added.

Wholesale price-based inflation rose to 8.56 per cent in January, shooting past the RBI’s forecast of 8.5 per cent for this fiscal end, as food items such as sugar, potatoes and pulses turned costlier.

Overall inflation in December was 7.31 per cent.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had recently said that rising inflation is a matter of concern. He, however, exuded confidence that inflation will ease in the next few months.

President Pratibha Patil, while addressing joint session of Parliament, had said that providing relief to ‘aam admi’ from higher food prices will remain the government’s top priority.